This is a zine dedicated to black metal written by a follower of the left hand path, This zine has been around in a different format for a while and I have decided to make an edition for www.blogger.com, for more information email occultblackmetalzine@yahoo.com, new albums as well as classic albums will be reviewed on here as long as their good quality black metal,

Monday, November 29, 2010

1. Can you update us with what is going on with Satani Infernalis these days and what we can expect in the upcoming future?

Dantalian: I have been finishing up the last track for the new album, as well as the final mixing and mastering of the finished tracks. There is a limited release vinyl coming up with Thanatos Records (formely Project Omega Music). The CD release should be out shortly after. I have no intention on slowing down with producing new black metal. There will be lots more on the way.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the newer release?

Dantalian: The newer material is similar to the older songs, but now the arrangements are better, the vocals are how I want them, as well as the new material has a more crisp sound. I don't like the guitars to sound like a bunch of noise. All around the music has evolved.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that the newer music explores?

Dantalian: The lyrics are all loosely based around a concept of apocalypse, and a satanic rule. The lyrics do very from performing ritual, to the apocalypse itself, war, hate, occultism. The lyrics topics usually don't change much, but the writing, and structure do improve.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Satani Infernalis?

Dantalian: Satani Infernalis is a latin term meaning, "Satan Infernal." I'm a Satanist. The name is really my respect to the dark energies.

5. Do you have any other projects, or is this a full time project?

Dantalian: I am actually writing material for a metal project. It's called The Silver Serpent Cult. I'm doing some vocals, and all guitars. I'm working with Colette Claire on lead vocals. That's a bit different from Satani, but still heavy as fuck.

6. In the past you have worked with other musicians, and now are a one man project, do you have any plans with working with other musicians in the future?

Dantalian: Of course. I would prefer to have a full line up for Satani. It always seems that to move forward I have to do everything myself. I hope to find the right people to play with.

7.What direction do you see the music heading into during the future?

Dantalian: Definitely more technical. Not that I'll be sacrificing the atmosphere, just enhancing it. Hopefully get a full line up to work with and expand this propaganda machine.

8.satani infernalis recently made a deal with Project Omega music(Thanatos Records). How did this deal come about, How has it worked out thus far, and what do you expect from them in the future?

Dantalian: Lloyd approached me after he listened to the myspace tracks. Unfortuanately the parent label backed out on him. The label is now a new fresh label. So far Lloyd has gotten Satani Infernalis radio play, and has a vinyl release in the works. He plans to expand into CD's and merch in time. I like the label. All good metal labels started small. I see the future looking good for both Satani and the label. Hopefully in the future we will have tour support as well.

9. How have black metal fans worldwide react to the musical sound that has came out of your releases?

Dantalian: Satani has some pretty die hard fans all over the world. I get a lot of requests for Satani to play in Austria, Germany, Norway, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, well you get the point. I am working on getting a show in Dennmark hosted by Nigrum Serpentis. Travel arrangements and line up problems have postponed this temporarily though. The fans react positively.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Dantalian: I have a long list of influences. Emperor, Dark Fortress, Sargeist, Behexen, Gravespawn, etc. Styles include some death metal, good black metal, classical, you get it.

11. How would you describe your views on Satanism or Occultism?

Dantalian: That's a really long answer. I'll give you basics. I'm an individual Satanist. I have a satanic philosophy that is not like any of the organized Satanic groups. I don't believe any one way to view something is right. Satanism is suppose to be the opposite. Question all things. My Satanic study and philosophy are diverse in many differents ideas. I'm working on writing a book about it. That's on the back burner right now.

I am currently writing new material, although it`s going pretty slow at the moment. I have no intentions to rush anything, since I am pretty satisfied with the final result of our current release "Chaos, Darkness & Emptiness". There is still lots of work to be done with the promotion for that album. I am expecting more reviews, as well as live concerts in the following months.

So far we have promoted the album live in several European countries (Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia...), and are preparing another European Tour for March 2011. All details & confirmations will soon be announced on our official MySpace page.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album, and how much do you feel you progressed over the years?

Our new album is pretty much based on Swedish Styled Black Metal from the mid 90`s, but with very strong Death Metal influences, and even Doom Metal elements. We also have ambient passages going in between the songs, since the album is done as a concept and everything is linked - everything has it`s own purpose. We really try to combine all essential things and put it all together in one package - it`s fast, brutal & aggressive, yet it`s melodic and pretty much easy to follow.

The progress of this band was without any doubt huge, considering that we have been a live and active band since early 2010, with a full line-up. So far we had shows all over Europe, and in 2010 released an EP, and after that a full-length album on several different labels & formats. Musically and production-wise we made a huge progress and added many other elements in our music which was not the case earlier, and can easily be heard when comparing previous releases to our new album.

3. Your new album has an interesting concept in the lyrics, what are some of the things that inspired you when writing the lyrics?

Glad you think that way. Basically, everyday life experiences and the stupidity, selfishness & abhorrence of mankind inspire me lyrically.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Bane?

As described in Wikipedia: Bane is a Modern English word meaning "that which causes ruin or woe". Although the word "Bane" was used in many different variations, which most of them are very interesting, and none of them are positive.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far, and how would you describe your stage performance?

It`s very hard to pick shows apart from others, as they are all important and in each and every one of them the band gives 666%. But some of the "best" would be say in the Capital of Slovenia when we played as support band to James Rivera (USA), in Czech Republic on the Volyne Metalfest when sharing the stage with Root (CZ), and maybe on Adrenalin Fest Open-Air in Becej, Serbia.

Our stage performance is simply a ritual of the band that makes us complete in order to represent what we stand for. It allows us to truly express the point of our music.

6. Do you have any touring plans for the new album?

As previously mentioned, yes - we should have a 2-week European Tour in March 2011. After that we will be playing a few summer festivals if everything goes well, and then we will see if it will be possible to hit the road again in Autumn...

Judging by the reviews I have read so far, the support given from our record labels and the amount of e-mails/messages sent to me from various people all over the globe, I can say that the majority really enjoyed the new material. I guess it`s interesting for people to hear this kind of genre & production coming from the Balkans, as it`s definitely something that can hardly be seen or heard in this corner of Europe. Hopefully we will be able to put the word "out there" even more in the future...

8. What direction would you like to take the band into on future releases?

It`s hard to tell at this time, since there are so many influences and good bands everywhere. But it would definitely be a very strong and if possible unique mixture of Death, Black & Doom Metal music. I will try to push the limits higher on each following releases, but not in a superficial way. The band will continue to develop in natural ways, as we are not in any kind of competition of some sort. It`s just something that matter to me, and to us. If someone likes it - fine, if not - I don`t care, really.

9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

The three (3) main bands that had the biggest influence on me and my music are without any doubt Dissection, Dark Funeral & Saturnus. There are also many Death Metal bands I really like, listen & enjoy, but I just can`t express them all in Bane. That`s why I have other Death Metal & Grindcore projects where I intend to make more "brutal" stuff.

Nowadays I am listening to all sorts of different bands & musical styles. I have a very wide range of music I listen to. But in the last weeks or so I can`t stop listening to Anachroneaon - one of the most original and unique Metal bands I have heard over the years. They come from Sweden, so you should definitely check them out. Also a phenomenal young band you should check out is Sanhedrin. They just released their first full-length album, and it`s possibly the best stuff I have heard coming from the UK. And I just received the first album from a Russian band called Odem. That stuff is simply both insane and amazing - definitely worth your time & money.

I could go on and on with this, there are just too many bands nowadays, can`t keep up with them all...

10. What role does Satanism or Occultism play in your music, and how would you describe your views on these topics?

My views about these topics are quite personal, so I don`t really combine them with my music, although it is at some times inevitable. Satanism and Occultism are nowadays very often only a theme for kids who are into "Black Metal", and using it to be "true" to other people, not really knowing the true meaning behind those words...so that`s mainly why I try not to write too much about them, although as I just said - they are indeed a part of me. They represent my beliefs that inflict on me as a human being, but it`s very personal and I don`t really share my visions and thoughts about those things to the public, sorry.

11. Outside of music, what are some of your interests?

To be honest, nothing much. Apart from keeping a simple lifestyle with my beloveth and listening/writing music, I really don`t have any other types of hobbies. I don`t play sports, don`t play video games, don`t drink alcohol, don`t do drugs, don`t really hang out with people in general. I have a few close ones that I sometimes share time with, and that`s it.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we close this interview?

Huge thanks for the true support, it really means a lot. Thanks to all the people who took their time to read this, keep the underground alive! Support your local bands, don`t stop buying printed fanzines and keep on buying/trading original CD`s, MC`s & vinyl!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Hinsides are a band from Norway that plays a very dark and atmospheric form of black metal with avant garde tendencies, and this is a review of their 2010 album "Universe Aspire In Mystcism" which was released by Abyss Records.

Drums alternate between slow, midpaced to fast drumming with alot of blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark distorted sound which follows the riffing that is coming out of the guitars but has alot of power on the intro, as for the synths when they are utilized they bring a very dark avant garde sound to the music.

Rhythm guitars alternate between slow, midpaced to fast raw black metal riffs and on a cople of songs there is a brief passage with some more slower soft playing, and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on the album.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some spoken word passages being used on one song, while the lyrics cover ancient myths and the search for the universe of all times, the mysteries of the universe, and the parallels to the nature forces that surround us, with a great dose of satanic, and anti-christain themes with most of the songs being written in English but one song is written in Norwegian, as for the production it has a very dark and raw feel to it.

In my opinion Hinsides are a very good band, and if you like the raw classic Norwegian black metal sound with a small amount of avant garde tendencies, you should check out this group. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "666 To Nero" "Black Witchery Ritual" and "Universe Aspire". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Hat are aband from Norway that has been interviewed as well as had their previous album reviewed in this zine, which plays an Anti Human form of black metal and this is a review of their 2010 album "Vortex Of Death" which was released by Abyss Records.

Drums range from midpaced to fast drumming with alot of brutal blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark tone which follows the riffing that is coming out of the guitars with a strong backbone, as for the synths when they are utilized they add an avant garde primal edge to the music and is only used briefly and on ocassion ther is a weird piano sound on the intros mixed in with some weird distorted noises.

Rhythm guitars are mostly midpaced to fast raw black metal riffs that retain the classic Norwegian feel, as for the lead guitars which are onlt briefly used on this recording, they have a very melodic feel to them, as for the accoustic guitar that is only use for a couple of seconds, they bring a very dark avant-garde edge to the music.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some spoken word passages, while the lyrics touch on anti-christain and human themes that are very dark and evil at times with the songwriting being written in both English and Norwegian, as for the production it has a very heavvy, powerful and raw edge to it.

In my opinion this is another great album from hat, and you can teel that they progressed alot with their new album, and if you where a fan of their previous recordings, you should enjoy this recording. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Invocating Death" "the Flesh I Wear" and "Ultimate Evil". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Bane are a band from Serbia that plays a frorm of brutal black metal that also has death metal influences and this is a review of their 2010 album "Chaos, Darkness And Emptiness" which was released by Abyss Records.

Drums range from slow, midpaced to fast drumming with alot of brutal blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and on some songs they sound very powerful, as for the keyboards when they are utilized they have a very dark and atmospheric sound that gives the music alot darker and more epic edge with alot of finger picking and full chords.

Rhythm guitars are mostly slow, midpaced, to fast black metal guitar riffs that also have a very heavy death metal influence to them and a great amount of melody and in addition one song has a very doomy feel to it, while th lead guitars are very melodic black metal guitar solos that have a classic metal feel to them, as for the accoustic guitars when they are utilized they bring a very dark and melodic edge to the music.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some deep death metal growls being utilized alot of themes with some ocassional spoken word passages, while the lyrics are somewhat conceptual with the main themes being divided into Chaos, Darkness, and Emptiness and some of the lyrical subjects are about evilness and plagues, as for the production it has a very professional sound and all of the instruments come out with a very good sound.

In my opinion Bane are a very good amount and if you like black metal that has some death metal influences and a great touch of melody, you should check ou this band. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The True Insomnia" "The Haunting Pressence" and "The Dawn No More Rises" which is a Dark Funeral cover. RECEMMONDED BUY.

1. What is going on with Bothildir these days?Bothildir I have put on hold for years because i was in college and earning my degree and during that time I was still writing music for it, so I dont like to give people's hopes up and tell them that I have stuff coming out soon but I have new songs that I have written and there pretty much in the same vien as the first album that I have put out and that is pretty much that, the problem is that I have been working with my 2 other bands alot for the past few years, I have new bands now that iare coming out with a new album so even though I have been writing music for my solo project, I still keep putting it off because I have been devoting my time to my full time bands, but there is new music and it is going to be brutal.

2. What are the names of your 2 other bands?One of them is called Shadar Logoth, that is a name that my bass player came up with from based on The Wheel Of Time books, I never read them but he really liked them and it is kind of like Mordor in Tolkien books, Shadar Logoth is like an evil place, My other band is called Infurum Bruo, 2 seperate words, I am currently in the works of making a website for that band and when I am done I will certainly email you the website so you can check out our stuff, we just finished recording a full-length and we are going to put it out very soon and then after that I will be focusing more on my solo project, but I do have 2 full time bands and I play drums in those bands

3. What are the musical styles of those 2 different bands?Shadar Logoth is more extreme epic metal as I would call it, it has alot of black metal influences and some thrash metal, Infurum Brou is a straight forward black metal band, we are influenced by bands like Wolves In The Throne Room and Mayhem and stuff like that.

4. Can you tell us more about Bothildir?That is pretty much straight up black metal, you can call it symphonic black metal because I use keyboards but I would just like to call it black metal, I am not really picky about genres.

5. According to your website you are completly sober, what impact does that have on your music and what is your opinion on the people in the scene that drink or do drugs?I have been sober and I dont do drugs or drink and I am not afraid to tell people that and it has never been of a big concern to me, no one has really been giving me a hard time about it and the way that I see it that it is very extreme to avoid alcohol and drugs especially as a metal musician and we have guys running around claiming to be extreme but they are just like everybody else and getting drunk on Friday nights and I just dont do that and too me that is really being extreme, not that I am trying to be extreme, I just dont like to drink or do drugs, alot of people associated their music with outside influences like psychedelic influences such as drugs and or alcoholic fuel, to each your own, like for example that band on the radio Hell Yeah all they do is sing about drinking and that is their thing, so I feel that I throw it up there that I dont do that and it does not and it does not influence my music and my music still kicks ass, It is one way to encourage people to look at that and say that is pretty hardcore not to do that and maybe I will try it and not get trashed on Saturday night and wake up with vomit on my face, maybe instead I will write music, that is something that I have thought off and again that is not really a big issue with me but I have had people you know make immature remarks about it I suppose and you just ignore them because they are pretty much arrogant assholes if they do that.

6. What are some of the lyrical topics that Bothildir covers with their music?I sing alot about nature, I have lived in New England my whole life, i was raised in the Mountain land scene of Vermont where I grew up hiking and , skiing and spending my time around lakes and alot of that has influenced my music over the years, I also sing about my general discontempt with the human race, that is a big theme in my music, i feel like that is a pretty big thing in general with black metal which tens to not like people and we tend to open about that and I am really that that much different and so alot of the themes revolve around corruption or just general hatred towards mankind.

7.What are some of your musical influences?My number one is and I know it is kind of cliche but I look at Emperor and Cthtonic as my biggest influences and Emperor was the band that really got me into black metal and I always like Ishann's style and approach to music and listening to his interviews and stuff, he is a pretty laid back charecter and he stands out from the crowd, and his songwriting and guitar playing is probably the best that black metal will ever see and I would say that is my number one influence, I am also highly influenced by classical music, I went to school for music, I have a degree in musical performance and I play in an orchestra so I am very involved with the classical genre, I like to use keyboards and I like to incorporate strings and horns in whatever type of symphonic soundscapes that might enhance the metaland other than that almost any other type of black metal in general, I am influenced in some way like Hellhammer, Celtic Frost and all those guys to modern stuff like Aborym, Dimmu Borgir and that is pretty much everything, I soak it up.

8. Do you have an interest in Occult topics?The guitar player in my band is somewhat involved with the occult stuff, the guitar player in Infurum Bruo and he sort of showed me more of that stuff, I have never dabled in that stuff before, but as far as topics because I dont know much I dont sing about it, because I dont want to pretend that I know lot about the occult practices but you know it is funny because I have been up to like Salem, Massechesetts a bunch of times and there is alot of people out there, they are pretty much into the occult and these people are real witches and stuff and I have been around that but you know it is something that I am still opening my mind to and it is rather new to me, I am being introduced to through other musicians and these guys listen to stuff like Watain and you know and that stuff is like the real deal so and I dont want to pretent to be like them when I am not so right now I am just staying cool and learning what I can, someday it might be incorporated into my side project.

9. What is the meaning behind the name Bothildir?It is pretty much a made up word, I made it up about 8 years ago when I was a teenager and I wanted to utilize the Norse stylings at the time and during that time I was really interested in Norse music and mythology and all that stuff and I found a word that in ancient Norse language that is not even used anymore and it think it was spilled similiar to Bothilder and it was like Bothulder or something with a Uand I say that it meant some remedy for war and I thought that was cooland so i kind of changed the word around a little bit and made it my own, so I guess you can say that the meaning is that it is just a word thatpays homage to the Norseway of things and life and the Norse mythology that has influenced by music from the beginning.

10. How have black metal fans worldwide react to your music?Over the past 4 years there has been overwhelmingly positive, surprisingly, I have made only a real limited stash of my cd's, I have only printed about a hundred of them and there was also an edition with a bonus track and I sold out alot of the copies, i have gave alot of them out for free and I sold some of them in stores, the local record shops and everybody that heard it seems to enjoy it so in someway and I have some reviews on my Myspace which is my only website at the moment and all of the reviews where positive I think that other people where relieved to hear something different with th use of the keyboards I do not know but it could just be that the fact that I write the music that I feel and I try not to let external influences necessarly dominate my music, it is eternally an extension of my own and so I think that people realize that when they listen and I think they realize that this is not music that is edited in anyway and it is all performed by me and I never use triggers or anything and so it still has a very raw feel to it and maybe that is something that people really appreciate and overrall the fan reaction has been good, I dont think that I have very many fans but from the few that I have, it has been great.

11. What direction would you like to take the music into on future releases?It is funny that you say that because I have been thinking alot of different directions , one direction that I wante dot go into was too incorporate more accoustic stuff into my metal rather than just using all electronic instruments, I would like to have more accoustic guitar mixed with some violins, cello that was one thing I have been dabling with using 7 strings, I have a 7 string guitar that I have had for a number of years I have never actuallly used it on recordings I just have one and I thought what the fuck if a have a 7 string guitar I might as well use it, so that is one direction I may head into to write some songs using a 7 string guitarand it is hard to say how it will turn out but I think it will be pretty cool, Emperor's last album was all 7 string guitars and some people dont know that but I though that album was awesome and the 7 string guitars had a pretty brutal attack and whether some people call it black metal or not, whatever you want to call it, it is very spectacular music and so you know I have been thinking of incorporating some 7 string stuff and alot more clean singing is another thing you might hear in upcoming music, so that is some of the newer directions that I would like to take as far as music itself it is still going to be fast, extreme and it is going to come out good.

12. Have you ever thought of incorporating any other musicians in your project or are you going to keep it solo?It has always been my project so I try to keep it that way but I like using guest musicians, I have some friends with one that has a project called Hallowed by Butchery he might do some quest vocals and I have some guitar players that might do some solos, usually on the drums, keyboards, guitars, riffs, and bass must of that stuff is done by me but I always like to collabarate with people. on my first album I had a guitar player do a solo that was pretty awesome and collabarating with other people so I would like to do a little bit more of that and have some other musicians that play, I dont want a bass player that play all of the bass riffs or anything like that but as far as guitar solos, maybe some guest vocals, stuff like that I am deffiantly open to and incorporating.

13. Are you currently working with any record labels right now?We dont know yet, my first album did not have any record label, I just made the first album by myself because I was very young when that album came out and I did not know what I was doing so I just printed all of the cd's by myself and payed for them by myself and everything, but know I have some more connections and I will be sending some demos out to alot of American labels and maybe some European labels and we will see who hits us up, but until we got a label, we are just going to release our music independently.

14. have you recieved any record label interest yet?We have not sent out the demo for the full length for our new album yet but ther are some local labels in Boston where I live that have shown a little bit of interst in what they have heard of our demo and we will see how that goes.

15. What are some of your interests outside of music?I am a pretty normal guy I like to read alot of books and I like to play video games on PlayStation 3 and I spend time with my wife, I am married and just live by myself with my wife and we just live a very normal life, we both work, I like to teach music which is related to my music interests,, and I hike, bike and I ski up here in New England, I dont know if you ski in Colorado, that is real skiing but we have pretty good skiing out here too and I spend alot of time outdoors .

16. Do you have anything else that you want to say before we close the interview?Thanks for calling me, I am glad that we finally got together and I know that we have been exchanging e-mails for months which you have been patient about it and put it up on your website, we are very excited about it and I am glad that after all these years have gone by since I have released an album that there are still people showing an interest in it and even if it is just one person, that gives me hope to continue on writing stuff , so thanks for contacting me and being patient with putting this together . And here is a download link for our album : http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KEJQOUOF

Monday, November 22, 2010

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the project, you have been around since 1995 but have remained underground so there is alot of people that have never heard of you before?

First of all thanks for this interview and your interest in our music, and sorry for my english. As you say, the band ILBELTZ was borned in 1995, in the Basque Country, and in the beggining we played heavy metal most of all, even though we also used some classical and clean guitars sometimes. At that time we used to play concerts, and the band was formed of four members: drum, bass, guitar, and guitar-vocals.In 1999, some of the members where more interested in other things than playing music, and that’s when the band suffered a change, according to the members and also to music, in some ways. That year we began recording two songs and an intro for an album shared with other two bands, and that’s when our music opened to black metal and traditional music, in a humble way. The album was “Iluntasunaren Itzulera” (The return of darkness, in Basque language), even though it was translated into english as “Triarchy of Vasconia”.The other two bands were ADHUR and AIUMEEN BASOA.After that until 2010, I’ve been conposing songs, and finally I decided to record some of these songs in this album called “Auskan Gabiltz Olatun Gainian” (We’re struggling on the waves).

2.You have alot of different styles and musical instruments on the new album, what was the sound that you wanted for this new release and how do you feel that you have achieved it?

I’m very happy with the result, because in the beggining I found a lot of obstacles. I had very little money, and I recorded most of the things in my little digital homestudio: classical and clean guitars, vocals, violins, flutes, oboe, accordions, bass... and then I had to go to a studio for the drum programming, the distorsioned guitars... mix and mastering.The most inportant thing for me has been the feeling. I needed to combine the humble recording equipments that I did have, with the most feeling I was able to.I also wanted an equilibrium between the different styles. Black and heavy metal parts had to be strong and rough enough, as well as the traditional parts, while the renaissance parts had to be sweet and bright enough. So, this recording has been an adventure for me.

3.You have some interesting lyrics, what was the main inspiration behind your songwriting?

Thanks. The lyrics tell a story that happens in the XVI th century. The story is about a Basque fisherman who scaped from war, and became pirate. It is based in a novel I’ve writen these years. I live closed to the sea, and probably the sea is my main inspiration behind this album, as well as our Basque language (wich we call “euskara”), and history. Usually, the history that they teach us, is taught by the point of view of the ones who won the wars, and had the power, and I think the other points of view must also be told. For example the point of view of this fisherman.

4.What is the meaning or inspiration behind the name Ilbeltz?

“Ilbeltz” is an ancient and nowadays little used word of our language that just means “january”. Its literal translation would be “black month”. This word reminds me those days that pagan belivings were alive, those days before the arrival of christianity.

5.Have you ever used any outside musicians to do some live shows?

No, I haven’t. Around 1999 some friends helped us playing a concert that we had taken before, but apart of that, we haven’t played since then. I must say that since around 2000-01 I have also been playing in other bands, like for example “AIUMEEN BASOA”, with which we’ve also edited an album this year.I often think about playing concerts with ILBELTZ, but this would be such a hard work, I would have to join a lot of people, and I don’t feel strong enough to do something like this nowadays.

6.Currently, you are unsigned, are you looking for a label, if so what kind of label do you feel would be a perfect fit for your music?

Well, I really don’t know. I’m not shure if I want a label or not. I think that nowadays labels don’t offer interesting contracts to little bands like us. Perhaps I would be interested in a label if they would pay the studio costs, as well as the CD costs of the factory, but these doesn’t happen nowadays, at least where I live. And I also think that the percentages that musicians earn are ridiculous.For me it’s also important to have complete control about the music that will appear in the album. These are basic things for me.

7.Your last release was in 2001 and it took 9 years for the new album, what where you doing in between those years?

The shared release that you’re talking about was in 2000, and in english was known as “Triarchy of Vasconia”. After that I’ve been conposing songs, trying to find and realize what I had in mind, and this have been a long and hard journey, because I didn’t kwow well enough the renaissance music for example, and the story I had in mind happened in the renaissance era.At the same time I’ve been writing the novel of 1049 pages, and playing music in other bands, from rock to classical music. But I wasn’t able to earn any money with this, so I also have been working in a pub, for example. Nowadays, apart of other things, I’m conposing classical music, a concert for soloist and orchestra. This was new for me.

8.How has the support been to your music worldwide from black/pagan/folk metal fans worldwide?

Great. It’s difficult for me to promote and let people know that I’ve recorded this album, but a lot of the ones that have listened to it usually tell me very good things. I mean, the ones that have writen to me by internet were very happy with the album, so I’m so glad about it.

9.What direction would you like to take your music into on future releases?

Well, I realy will not know the direction that it will take until I begin recording, but I’ve got songs for a couple of albums more or less. And it seems that black and heavy metal will be more present. Maybe, a little more kind of blues too, we’ll see.

10.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I think all music styles have interesting things, and I listen to a lot of kinds of music, and if I should say what bands have influenced ILBELTZ’s music, I would have to write a very very long list. For example concerning to metal and rock; Naglfar (Vitra), Ananimated, Amorphis, Dissection, Emperor, Bathory, Cathedral, Death... Running Wild, Iron Maiden, Riot, Blind Guardian, King Diamond, Judas Priest, Deep purple, Dire Strites... This 10 years, what I’ve most listened to is renaissance and medieval music, and this includes traditional music from any country. But as I said before, I also listen to classical music of any period, jazz... I’d like to mention some black metal bands from the Basque Country; AIUMEEN BASOA, NAKKIGA, DENIAL, NUMEN, SENTIMEN BELTZA, ADHUR... there are a lot more.

11.What are some forms of paganism or occultism that you have the most interest in and what role does it play in your music?

For me, paganism is the point of view, the relation with nature, and the way of understanding life and death, that had got people, before the arrival of religions.In my case, I am from the Basque Country, and they say that christianity began arriving to the Basque Country between the years 800-1000 more or less (At that time Basque Country was first known as Vasconia, and afterwards as Navarra). Christianity tryed to erase this pagan way of thinking, and I’m very interested in recovering it.Our language and traditional music are part of this pagan way of thinking.

12.Outside of music, what are some of your interests?

I like reading and writing, and I’m writing some novels. I like films, and I’m writing a script. I also like painting, learning languages, drinking rum, beer... I’d like to sail in an ancient ship...

13.Any final words or thoughts before we close this interview?

I’d like to thank you again for your review and this interview. And also I’ll write here our address on “myspace”, in case someone would like to listen to some of our songs: HYPERLINK "http://www.myspace.com/ilbeltzofficial" www.myspace.com/ilbeltzofficial . And if someone wants to bye the album, can write to HYPERLINK "mailto:ilbeltz@hotmail.com" ilbeltz@hotmail.com . Thanks and best wishes!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Horned Almighty are a band from Denmark that has a few albums and splits to their name, which also plays a style that I would describe as being raw black metal with a thrash/punk edge and this is a review of their 2010 album "Necro Spirituals" which will be released by Candlelight Records.

Drums alternate between slow, midpaced to fast drumming with some blast beats, while the bass playing seems to follow the riffs that are coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound of their own which dominate throughout the album, as for the synth it is only used briefly to enhance atmosphere and it is only used for a few seconds, with all the rest of the music between pure raw metal.

Rhythm guitars are mostly midpaced to fast raw black metal riffs that take alot of thrash and punk influences and at times they have a black rock feel to them with some ocassional slow doomy riffing, while the lead guitars are very primal and chaotic black metal guitar solos.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some deep growls being used at times, while the lyrics cover hateful themes with some anti christaian and Satanic themes which I would of liked to hear more of on this new album since there older lyrics where more Satanic, as for the production it has a very raw and heavy sound to it.

In my opinion this is another great album from Horned Almighty, and if you where a fan of their previous recordings, you will not be dissapointed. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Necro Spirituals" "Sworn Divine Vengeance" "Blessing The World In Pestillence" and "Absolved In The Sight Of God". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Eastern Front are a band from Great Britian that plays a very brutal form of war/black metal that also has a death metal feel to it and this is a review of their 2010 album "Blood On Snow" which will be released by Candlelight Reocres.

Drums alternate between slow, midpaced to fast drumming with alot of brutal blast beats that are very heavy and crushing, while the bass playing has a very strong and powerful sound that dominates throughout the album, as for the keyboards when they are utilized which is rare they have a classical music feel that brings back memories of the war.

Rhythm guitars alternate between slow, midpaced to fast raw war/black metal riffs that also have some death metal influences with a small amount of melody being used at times, while the lead guitars when they are utilized they have a very melodic feel to them, as for the accoustic guitars when they are used to bring an ancient feel to the brutal music that is on this recording and on the last song there is a small amount of violin being utilized.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some deep death metal growls being thrown in at times mixed in with some ocassional spoken word passages as well as some samples from the second world war, while the lyrics cover World War II, as for the production it has a very raw feel but you can still hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording.

In my opinion Eastern Front are a very good war/black metal band and if you are a fan of this style you should check out this band. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Stalinorgel" "Blood On Snow" and "At The Gates Of Moscow". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Meads Of Asphodel are a band from the United Kingdom that have a long history with a musical style that I would describe as Anti Christian experimental black metal and this is a review of their 2010 album "The Murder Of Jesus The Jew" which will be released by Candlelight Records.

Drums alternate between slow, midpaced, to fast drumming with some brutal blast beats and percussion work that brings a very tribal sound to the music, while the keyboards and synths have an orchestrated classical music feel to them as well as an avant garde/experimental feel, as far for the bass playing it has a very strong and powerful tone which is very easy to hear on this recording.

Rhythn guitars are mostly slow, midpaced to fast black metal riffs with alot of thrash, punk and traditional metal influences that also contain alot of melody to them, while the lead guitars are very melodic guitar solos that have a very classic metal to them with some slide guitar being used at times which give the music a darker feel, as for the accoustic guitars when they are utilized they bring a classical/folk music feel to the music as well as some influences from progressive music.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some deep growls and clean singing male and female vocals being used at times, while the lyrics touch on Anti Christaian and Satanic themes, as for the production it has a very heavy and professional sound to it with all of the musical instruments having a very good sound to them.

In my opinion this is another good album from The meads of Asphodel and if you where a fan of their previous recordings, you should enjoy this recording. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "My Psychotic Sand Diety" "Dark Gethsenane" "Jew Killer" and "Genesis Of Death". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Ilbeltz are a band from Spain that started out as a more raw pagan black metal band with folk elements and on this album they go for a more folk direction while keeping the black metal elements and this is a review of their 2010 album "Auskan Gabiltz Olatun Gainian (1598 Potrobizargorri I)" which was self released.

Programmed drums have a very slow and primal sound to them with some fast beats, while all the folk instruments such as flutes, keyboards, accordians and violins bring a very ancient sounding folk music feel to the music, as for the bass playing it is mixed down low in the mix and seems to follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound of their own.

Rhythm guitars when they are distorted have a very dark raw black metal feel to them and range from slow, midpaced to fast with some melodies and regular metal influences, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos that combine traditional and black metal together, as for the accoustic and classical guitars that have a very ancient pagan/folk music to them.

Harsh vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with the clean vocals being very melodic and have a combination of traditional metal and folk music influences, while the lyrics are written in Basque and cover Basque folklore, paganism as well as some Anti Christain and Satanic themes, as for the production which was recorded at various studios between the months of December 2009 to Feburary 2010 has a very dark yet somewhat professional sound that brings to ancient folklore to the modern day.

In my opinion this is a great album from Ilbeltz and if you are a fan of pagan black metal that mixes folk music in their music you should check out this album. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Maniel moxkortiyarena" and "Auskin gabiltz olatun gainien". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

1. How has the U.S tour been going so far?So far this is our third date, so it is hard to say, but is has so far been like we expected it, this time around we managed to being 5 persons for the first time like we do in Europe before then I was doing the bass and singing

2. So how has the switch to vocals instead of vocals and bass has been working out so far?It is something that I am used to but this is the frirst time for a U.S tour, I dont really like it, to me it changes far much for the concerts and it does not do it for me but is much material and it is something that I am used to.

3. What are some of the props or dead animals that you are using on this tour?That is for those to find out when they go to the concert, i feel that people are focusing too much on that, when it comes to a Watain concert it does not matter what kind of speices of dead animals that we are using or how many candles we have lit on stage, it is very important for people to remember that they are not there to watch a freak show with a bunch of conterversal propson stage, they are here to watch a ceremony and they will take what they get.

4. I have read recently that you got a gold record for your single in Sweden, how did that go?It was something that happened that i did not pay that much attention to, I know that are label is really happy but it does not make that much difference to me, I supose that it is a good sign.

5. What happened to your old member St Tetian?He was not let into the country?

6.I have read somewhere that the band was part of the MLO which became Order Of The Black Flame, how has that been working for you?That has nothing to do with this interview?

7.How would you compare the American audiences to the European audiences?I dont really,I dont think that much about these kind of things. The stage is what matters to me and what I do and it does not matter to me whether I am in Afghanistan or China or even my living room, it is always about the same thing to me, what the audience does or does not do less or less I think.

8. How would you describe the lyrical content of the new album?The lyrics to summon them up which took me 6 years to write , lets just put it this way all the lyrics are written in one single source, it is about love, love for the devil and the love for his blessing and gratitude that I feel towards that blessing.

9. How would you desribe your views on Occultism or Satanism, which paths do you follow? I would describe my views on Occultism and Satanism as determined , intolerance and very illuminated, that would describe my views as a Satanist.

10. Are you happy with the sound of the new album, I have noticed that they new recording had alot of progression? You have to undertand that in order to do a band like this that there is not alot of room for doubt and not being satisfied, I did that when I was 14If I was not happy with it, why would I release it.

11. Are you happy with the support that Season Of Mist has given your band so far in America?That is completely irrelevant to me, it is just a label I think it is very boring and pointless to talk about labels in relation to such an interesting thing such as Watain.

12. Did you have any certain musical influences for the new album?Mostly Watain, i think every great piece of art and music has been the void of external influences, in order to do something very memorable and worthy of being called Satanic music you must leave all external influences behind and look into yourself, that is the greatest task of an artist and the grand work and that is everything we do woith Watain is based upon, to come to know ourselves and create everything we do out of non external influences

13. What is your new opinion of the newer Satanic black metal bands that have came out in the last couple of years?I cant say that Iam, I mostly listen to Judas Priest, G.G Allin and stuff like that.

14. Have you encountered any problems with this tour, like you did with the last one, I have read that a couple of years ago that people were freaking out that you killed a bunch of pigeons?There will always be people freaking out and that is how it goes, could not care less.

15. What are your plans after the U.S tour?We are going to South America with Mortuary Drape and do some shows there and we have one month of after that and then we will start touring again around Feburary and March of next year.

16. When do you plan on starting work on the next album?We dont plan like that, we do things as thet come

17. Do you have anything else that you want to say before we finish this interview?i would like to have people think a bit more before approaching Watain, be it reading an interview or going to a concert or what ever, I think that people are far more into thinking shallow and they dont get the whole picture, and to alot of people we are just a freak show in a way contreversial , the bad boys, yeah we might be but that is not why we are here and that is not the purpose or message of Watain, it is just a coincidence, look deeper.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Virvel Av Morkerhatet are a band from Ukraine that plays a very dark and raw form of black metal and this is a review of their 2010 album "Forsaken Hate Sikness" which will be released by Forbidden Records.

Drums alternate between slow, mid paced, to fast drumming with some blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark tone which is kind of mixed down low in the mix and seems to follow the riffs that are coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful and distorted sound.

Rhythm guitars alternate between slow, mid paced to fast raw black metal riffs that utilize some palm muting, and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some deep growls, while the lyrics cover winter, darkness and some Anti Christian themes, as for the production it has a very dark and raw sound to it.

In my opinion Virvel Av Morkerhated are a very good raw black metal band that should appeal to all fans of this genre. RECOMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Winter Call" "When God Is Dead" and "Gloomy Fear". RECOMMONDED BUY.

Cavus are a band from Finland that plays a very fast and brutal form of raw black metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "Fester And Putrefy" which will be released by Listenable Records.

Drums alternate between slow, midpaced to fast drumming with alot of brutal blast beats that have a very primitive edge to them, while the bass playing sounds very dark and adds to the brutality that comes out of the rhythm guitars.

Rhythm guitars alternate between slow, midpaced to fast brutal black metal riffs that still retain the raw and primal edge with a crusty feel being utilized at times, while the lead guitars when they are utilized they bring in some very chaotic sounding guitar solos.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams that also have a death metal edge to them, while the lyrics cover violent themes with a dose of Satanism, as for the production it has a very heavy and brutal sound to it.

In my opinion Cavus are a very good brutal black metal band that should appeal to all fans of this genre. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Fist Of A Titan" "Death Rattle" "Possessed By The Devil's Blood" and "Worship And Rot". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Rachid - First off, thank you for the interview, I appreciate you setting aside time from your busy schedule for this! I have been recording a new style of Experimental music for multiple Splits which will be released over the next 4 months, promoting and advertising for my full length that came out in April BETWEEN THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT and playing live shows outside of Montana whenever possible, as well as gigging locally. I have also put a considerable amount of effort into making new Z.K. merchandise, two new shirts and patches can be purchased directly through me on various easy to find websites. I am currently writing for the third and final installment in the Die Nibelungen trilogy, which will be released next Spring.

2. How would you describe the newer direction of the music?

Rachid - I have started experimenting with combining dark synthesizer music with ambient guitar and blast beat drumming, all while extensively utilizing samples from scientific research videos on dark energy (supposedly what 74% of the universe consists of), transcendental meditation, hypnosis and the mind prison (a.k.a. human conditioning). Their is a fair amount of variation on this formula, so not everything sounds alike by any means. This is the next step in the evolution of Zebulon Kosted, but I'm sure it will not be the last. Live I have written and performed 6 new 20 minute Avant Garde / Blackened Doom Metal pieces over the last 8 months, some incorporating performance art.

3. What can we expect from the song writing on future releases?

Rachid - Don't expect anything specific, once I become easily predictable in my songwriting I have failed in my musical mission. Obviously many would classify my music as Black Metal, which is both an honor and frustrating, since I very much enjoy this genre of music, but do not classify myself this way. Others would say that I fit into the Experimental music realm, which is more fitting, but also quite vague. I do sometimes record Harsh Noise and Dark Ambient music, but I wouldn't say that this is my main focus either, just a smaller part of the whole. I guess the best answer I can give you is to expect something more focused and well thought out than ever before!

4. Out off all the live shows that the band has played so far, which one did you enjoy the most?

Rachid - Last year while on my west coast tour I played a show that was put together by Clovenhoof Productions (thanks Patrick!) at Yayo's in Las Vegas, with Breath of Sorrows and Wolfgate. My 1 song, 22 minute Black Doom / Avant Garde / Dark Ambient / Noise set was filmed and released on DVD by Clovenhoof. I've only watched it twice, but what I was excited about both times was that by my ninth show on tour my set was almost perfect! I also got to meet Jonathan from Tomhet for the first time, and since he and I released a very important Split in my career together, and had corresponded by phone and online for so long, it was a lot of fun to hang out in the flesh.

5. I have listened to your cd's and also attended a live show, and it seems like the music is more of a noise project on stage and the albums sound different, what is the cause of this?

Rachid - I have never played a Z.K. show without guitar, vocals, and a beat that was being followed by these instruments. Due to this I would never call even one of the 40 shows Zebulon Kosted has played a "Noise" show. As stated earlier I do incorporate Dark Ambient and Noise elements into my set, but this is just a small part of the whole composition. I have intentionally played different music live than what I release mostly due to the fact that while I do occasionally ask David Lewis Johnson and Caitlin Mackenzie Ajax to help me during live shows, and recording, I am essentially a one man band and always have been. Therefore I am limited by what I can do as one person, and the equipment involved to do that, even though I do own a lot of equipment.

6. I know that you have some side projects, what is going on with those projects these days?

Rachid - Korolev Zond is in the process of recording a new full length album, Vladimir Ilyushin is the tentative name of that release. Smert played it's first show this year. It was our album release show for our new full length Death to Traitors, and the filmed version can be found in two parts on YouTube. I have been recording for the first Olgoi Khorkoi full length long distance with the other members in Mongolia, so far the material is intimidatingly good. I have also been invited to record vocals for the Cascadian Black Metal band Kodiak Sacrifice, which should be very exciting!

7. The band is from Montana, how does the climate out there influence your music?

Rachid - I have lived in Montana my entire life, and no matter how far away I move from this place in the future it will always be a part of me. I was born in a cabin. This cabin was located next to a lake, simply called Fish Lake, near the top of Mount Marsten a few miles from the town of Stryker, population 50. My family owns land outside of Eureka 8 miles from the border of British Colombia, which was once harvested as a Christmas tree farm. The Northwestern part of our state is sparsely populated. Our winters are extremely harsh and prolonged. In general I feel as though Montana is a huge part of my music, but I'll leave it to the listeners to decide what part of that they hear in Zebulon Kosted, and if they come to Montana maybe they will understand what that is more fully.

8. How would you describe your musical progress over the years?

Rachid - That is an interesting way to phrase that question. Some of the music on IO, my first full length from 2000, I think is better than anything I am writing and recording now. I don't see my career in music as being a steady climb uphill by any means. Some releases have been stronger than others. Some releases have taken a few hours to record, while others have taken months. Some releases have even alienated old fans, and some have created new fans. I have always worked with small labels and set up Splits with underground bands because that is the space that I feel comfortable working within. I'm not trying to impress anyone, or become famous. I'm here to make something new and sometimes people don't appreciate that at all. I guess it's a good thing that I don't care what other people think of my music.

9. What are some of the musical styles that have influenced your music?

Rachid - I'm inspired by individual musicians, bands, ensembles, groups or whatever you'd like to call musicians, not specific genres of music or musical styles. Overall I would say that in no particular order I have been influenced the most by Sun Ra, Bathory, Jandek, Merzbow, Bjork, Neurosis and Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn to name the larger bands that others reading this may be able to recognize. The underground bands who influence me the most, and should be payed more attention to than the list above, are Nekrasov (Australian Blackened Noise Metal), Argot (Indonesian Harsh Noise), Void of Coil (Argentinian Dark Ambient), Qafas (Bahraini Doom Metal ) and Alost (French Industrial Black Metal). For those interested in finding out more about these bands you can find links to their sites in my top friends on the Z.K. MySpace page.

10. What role does the metaphysical element play in your music?

Rachid - He who knows he doesn't know, knows. Real eyes, realize, real lies. Nothing is true and everything is permitted. As above, so below.

Rachid - I hope that none of you who are reading this think that I'm important in the music world, because I'm not. Maybe after I continue on this path for another 20 years people will appreciate what I am doing, but for now I think I am intentionally too strange for a larger audience to latch onto. When the world completely falls apart come to Montana, there is plenty of room and we are nice people!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

The Band was more or less started in late 2009, with me and Helvete growing tired of the modern bullshit "metal" scene. we were in a band called Inherited for a few years, and it went on temporaray hiatus due to the other members being busy with things. Perfectly understandable things, but it was a hiatus nonetheless.... Him and I basically got back together and jammed in his room, and made some really feeble shit... after awhile, we met an individual by the name of Josh McElfresh, who had previously worked in Bringers of Disease, Nolgorith, and Totuus, some other excellent Black Metal bands from around the Area. after drinking with him and jamming, and witnessing his superior bass skills, he was immediately asked to join. and we added a friend of mine, Demogorgon, previously from inherited, for some live ambience as well. we will have our first clandestine ritual on the 20th of this month.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?ambient, raw, pagan, black war to blaspheme the weakling white light. a mixture between an old-school beherit-esque finnish war-metal sound, and an atmospheric ambient onslaught. our newer sound leaning more towards the former and worshipping the ancient ones, such as blasphemy, beherit, impaled nazarene, archgoat, and our older sound leaning more towards skagos and wolves in the throne room.3. What are some of the lyrical subjects that the band explores with the music?Hatred for existence, destruction of the self through purifying cathartic spiritual mutilation, spiritual desecration of the innermost reaches of the mind, war against reality in all its forms, and corrupting and ultimately destroying the white light within the human psyche, and therefore finding truth and penultimate freedom of the self.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band's name?The name was created by me, It's part of my heritage and our ideologies at the same time. it's Welsh for "Chaos" or "War", if that clears anything up.

4. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?Our band has not played live yet, and we wont very often. as i said, they're clandestine rituals in which few will probably ever partake. Our first show will be held on November 20, 2010, in Springfield. It will be held at nightfall, and will consist probably of alot of bloodshed and war, warpaint, mutilation, an overall aural assault that will desecrate and pervert the audience's souls.

5. I know that one of the members runs the Ohio BMWA chapter, how has that worked out so far?That would be me, Havik, with Helvete as my right-hand man, and it is working out very well.

6. How has your music been recieved so far by black metal fans worldwide?

I have no idea, and i really dont care. I know we have a small, dedicated following, and that's what matters. Thats what we want, not screaming 14-year-old fans. fuck that. i dont care what most people think whatsoever. we make the music for us, not for others.7. Are there any side projects besides this band, or is this a full time group?

There's actually a ridiculous amount of side-projects. it's pretty much a full-time group,but we're involved with bands from almost every genre. me and helvete are also involved with Subhuman Scum, this grindcore thing we've been doing for years, and Iconoclasm, this brutal/technical death metal band we've been doing for awhile, and of course Inherited. Josh is ivolved with alot of Black Metal, and Helvete is involved in alot of underground punk.

8. What direction do you see the music heading into during the future?I see our tribe growing in numbers and our war waging stronger.

9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?personally, im influenced by more True American bands like Black Witchery, Krieg, Profanatica, Havohej, Demoncy, and Vomit Ritual, as well as old Beherit, Sarcofago, Archgoat and all that. I know Helvete is influenced in more ambient aspects as far as his guitar-playing goes.Iv'e been listening to alot of war metal and old-school black/death metal recently. and i know Helvete has been listening to alot of old-school punk and crust, as of late.10. What forms of Occultism or Satanism, does the band follow?I follow a more traditional form of Paganism, mixed with alot of darker aspects and chaos magick influences. And Helvete is more of a spiritual/occult satanist.

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?Well, I love sex, if that counts.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we close this interview?Thank you for your time. Infernal Hails to Suedomza, Cheif Christkiller, Troll, and the rest of the BMWA Elite! Infernal War Hails to Enoonmai, Foul Stench, Darkness Undying (RIP), and Atral Projections. Desecrate the Holy!

Friday, November 5, 2010

1. Can you update us with what is going on with the project these days?We have a new release with the Quebec’s label Sepulchral Production. This a very good thing for Neige & Noirceur and we are happy to be working with them. They are the main label promoting black metal from Quebec.

2. How would you describe the musical style of the new album?

Wintery Black metal that meets old Quebec’s folklore… It is less ambient than my other albums.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and concepts the new album explores?

The first songs of this album are brutal tributes to Quebec’s history. Full of wrath!

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band's name?

It comes from a part of some old lyrics from the song “Le pendule de Foucault: demo II.” I think I should call this song Neige et Noirceur. These are two words in opposition: the cold white snow and the black and deep darkness. I like these words, so I used them for the name of my project.

5. Do you have any side projects besides this project, or is this a full time project?

No side projects. All the dark music I will record is gonna be under that name. Whether it is black metal or atmospheric ambient, etc. Anyway, I never do the same album…

6. Your music deals a lot with Quebec Nationalism, can you tell us a little bit more about this topic?

I think that people will need a translation of Ancien Folklore Quebecois. Everything is told in this song.

7. How has your music been received so far by black metal fans worldwide?

We have a lot of good reviews. Good young and dark fans.

8. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?

I go with the feelings. I made some ultra raw ambient black metal, drone doom metal… dark acoustic … nature mysticism, occultism, Quebec nationalism. I will see in time.

9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?

A lot of the classic black metal…. And some other styles with original stuff. The list is too long, but I listen to other music styles too.

10. What role does Occultism, Satanism or Paganism play in the music?

Occultism is spiritual, ritual, religious. Black metal is something deeply spiritual, deeply religious as music. There is no music you can listen to like black metal. That’s why I record this kind of malefic music.

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Whatever.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we close this interview?

Hail from Quebec and listen to my albums…. You’ll be surprised with what you hear! Thanks for the interview!

Nothing special. Rehearsals, main work, common life. Autumn/Winter is just a season for good job, practice, plans and hopes…

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new release?

It’s consistent enough. I think it’s the very best sound we could ever make on our records.

3. What are some of the lyrical concepts and topics that the band has explored on both newer and older albums?

Nature, it’s mystical essence, Paganism

4. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

You know it hard to mark out the one very best show but it’s always great to play together with our old friends on Ukrainian Kolovorot fests and Pagan fests. I can’t describe our stage performance. It can be described by anyone saw it. There’re good performances and not so good ones and it depends on the atmosphere inside the venue, fans support, equipment and of course on our inner feelings and state.

5. When can we expect the new album?

We hope it’s out this December just as our label plans

6. Recently you got signed to Paragon Records and they are getting ready to re-issue your older material, how has the support been from that label so fasr?

We love to work with Paragon Records cause we always get huge support and understanding in many ways. We are very thankful Paragon for that.

8. How have pagan/black metal fans worldwide react to your music so far?

If following the reviews on our records in the web so I can definitely say we’re not so bad). We’re also getting some positive feedbacks from fans Worldwide.

9. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?

Actually I think that our fourth full length album is more professional in technique, songs structure and sound recording than our previous records. The progress is obvious once you start to listen to our new album but sure if you know the previous ones)). There are many directions for us to go to further and right now I can’t exactly say how we’ll sound on our next records. Time will tell…

10. Do you have any plans in the future to tour the United States?

No. It’s impossible cause it’s too expensive to reach USA from Ukraine. If metal music could be as popular as it was in 80s and there would be such great attendance I think there would be people interested in us.

11. What are some of the bands and musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Oh! There are too many bands influenced us by the years just like classic gothic FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM, TYPE O NEGATIVE, SISTERS OF MERCY, also KATATONIA, PARADISE LOST, old school death metal bands like OBITUARY, DISMEMBER, BOLT THROWER, classic BM like DARKTHRONE, BURZUM and of course many of classic hard rock bands like BLACK SABBATH, W.A.S.P. and so on. Nowadays we still listen to metal music)) We also love some post-rock, post metal bands, some progressive like PORCUPINE TREE but mainly we’re still in metal)))

12. Are there any current side projects going on these days, besides this band?

No any side projects now. There were times we have some but now almost all the members of KHORS play in KHORS only.

13. How important is Slavic Paganism to the music and do you have any interest in any other forms of paganism or occultism?

It’s very important as it’s the main ideological component of KHORS. Our interests are also in history, traditions, mythology, culture, architecture, poetry, etc. It goes about European Heathen Culture not only about Slavic Paganism.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Concubia Nocte are a band from Slovakia that play a very raw and atmospheric form of pagan black metal and this is a review of their 2008 album "Sekerou Perana Kladivom Thora" which was released by Morbid Winter Records.

Drums alternate between slow, midpaced, to fast drumming with some blast beats, while the synths bring in a dark atmospheric sound to the music mixed in with a flute that gives the music a folk/pagan feel, as for the bass playing it has a very strong and dark tone that comes out really good in the recording with an occasional bass lead.

Rhythm guitars are a mixture of slow, midpaced to fast raw pagan/black metal riffs that use some melodies at times, while the lead guitars are very primal sounding black metal guitar leads, as for the accoustic guitars when they are utilized they bring a very dark and medievel feel to the music.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams, while the lyrics are written in their native tongue and cover Heathenism and Paganism, as for the production it has a very dark and raw feel to it.

In my opinion Concubia Nocte are a very good raw sounding pagan/black metal band, and if you are a fan of this genre, you should check out this band. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Zo Stroma Modia" "Roh Velesa" and "Concubia Nocte". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Warxath are a one man project from Slovakia and this is a review of their 2010 Demo CD_R "When The Stars Began To Fall".

Drums alternate between slow, midpaced to fast drumming with alot of blast beats that are pounded on very heavily, while the bass playing has a very dark tone which is mixed down low in the mix and seems to follow the riffs that are coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars alternate between slow, midpaced to fast raw black metal riffing with some more melodic slower playing being used on one song, while the lead guitars are melodic leads when they are utilized.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams that have a raspy feel to them at times as well as some spoken word passages with only a small amount of clean singing, while the lyrics touch on occult themes, as for the production it has a very dark and raw sound to it.

In my opinion Warxath are a very good raw occult black metal band, and none of the 3 songs on the demo sound the same, if you are a fan of this style you should check out this band. RECEMMONDED TRACK "Illumination". RECEMMONDED BUY.